Chrysoprasis maryhowardae, Clarke, 2015

Clarke, Robin O. S., 2015, Bolivian Cerambycinae: new anthophilous species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Insecta Mundi 2015 (453), pp. 1-22 : 4-6

Chrysoprasis maryhowardae sp. nov.

Fig. 6, 7

Description of holotype. Male, length 7.50 mm. Color of forebody entirely bright, metallic green, abdomen rufous-brown; antennomeres black, scape with metallic green reflection; legs dark colored, femora and mesocoxae with metallic green reflection, tibia and tarsi with weak violet reflection. Head densely punctured, with large, subalveolate punctures on clypeus and between antennal tubercles, smaller and densest between inferior lobes of eyes. Clypeus almost flat; separated from frons by moderately distinct, arced suture. Frons twice as wide as long; median suture narrow and entire. Genae moderately long, about two-thirds length of inferior lobe. Antennae carinate, almost filiform, passing apex of elytra at apex of IX, and just reaching apex of abdomen; basal segments cylindrical, unarmed, and somewhat flattened; III–V with dense, moderately large punctures; III–VII with single row of sparse setae; apical segments micropunctate, distinctly flattened, hardly widened at apex, and scarcely serrate, passing apex of elytra at apex of IX, and just reaching apex of abdomen. Scape cylindrical, not robust; with dense, corrugated punctures, and inconspicuously setose; about two-thirds (0.70 mm) length of antennomere III (1.15 mm), of equal length to IV; III longer than V (0.75), nearly twice as long as XI (0.60 mm), XI about four times longer than wide. Prothorax slightly wider than long, convex dorsally, sides only moderately rounded from apex to their widest point at basal third, strongly rounded to basal constriction. Pronotum with uniform, dense, moderately large (larger laterally), alveolate punctures; and almost glabrous. Prosternum with dense alveolate, weakly corrugate punctures, inconspicuously pubescent, weakly microreticulate. Elytra rather short (2.7 longer than prothorax), and wide (2.0 longer than width across humeri); weakly, but regularly narrowed from base to apex; surface entirely microreticulate with rather dense, beveled, setose, large punctures, becoming corrugated laterally. Humeri projecting. Apices obliquely truncate, and armed with conspicuous tooth laterally. Metasternum with large, subcontiguous, nonreticulate, subalveolate punctures, and; almost glabrous. Metepisternum rather sparsely, weakly and, shallowly punctured, without corrugation. Abdomen subglabrous, sparsely punctured; urosternite V transverse (about three times wider than long), broadly rounded to apex; pygidium completely exposed. Legs with dense, large, rather deep, corrugated punctures, shining and not microreticulate on femora; metafemora pass apex of elytra at apical third; metatarsomere I (1.00 mm) as long as II+III united.

Female ( Fig. 7 ). Weakly sexually dimorphic. Brightness of color somewhat subdued (especially below), darker green on prosternum and metasternum (and mixed with copper colored reflection on latter), and mesosternum almost black. Mesocoxae black. Metasternal punctures larger and sparser than in male. Apex of antennae just failing to reach apex of elytra; antennomere XI more robust and shorter than in male, about 2.5 longer than wide. Prothorax slightly longer than in male, almost quadrate; sides regularly rounded from apex to base, widest more towards middle. Elytra slightly more elongate, 2.4 longer than width across humeri, the latter not as wide as in male; tooth at lateral apex inconspicuous. Urosternite V about twice as wide as long.

Measurements (mm). 1 male / 1 female, total length 7.50/8.10; length of pronotum 1.60/1.65; width of pronotum 1.70/1.70; length of elytra 3.80/3.95; width at humeri 1.85/1.90.

Diagnosis. This species belongs to the hypocrita -group as defined by Napp & Martins (1998), and is closest to Chrysoprasis tobiuna Napp and Martins, 1998 , but differs as follows. In C. maryhowardae abdomen almost impunctate (in C. tobiuna densely punctured); in male C. maryhowardae , antennae surpass apex of elytra (in male C. tobiuna just reach apex of elytra); in C. maryhowardae elytra regularly narrowed from base to apex (in C. tobiuna distinctly dilated for apical third); in C. maryhowardae only lateral half of elytral surface corrugated (in C. tobiuna entire surface corrugated); in C. maryhowardae metatarsomere I as long as II and III united (in C. tobiuna I distinctly shorter than II+III).

Chrysoprasis maryhowardae is smaller and much less robust than C. tobiuna ; and the forebody and elytral color are entirely bright green (in C. tobiuna forebody and elytra green, but infused with copper colored tints, or almost entirely violet in color).

Type material. Holotype male: BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz , 17°27’S / 63°43’W, 400m, 5 km W Buena Vista, 1km W Candelaria , flying to/on flowers of “Gomphrena”, 14.VIII.2007 ( MNKM) . Paratype: Santa Cruz , data as holotype, female ( RCSZ).

Comment. Following their description of the single male specimen of C. tobiuna, Napp and Martins (1998) stated that this species may be distinguished from all others by the following character combinations. Elytra short, with surface corrugated, and humeri distinctly projecting; prothorax as long as wide, weakly rounded at sides; antennae shorter than body, unarmed, apical segments flattened and serrate; metasternum with large, subcontiguous punctures; genae short. Since C. maryhowardae shares most of these characters (except antennae longer than body in male, and genae slightly longer in both sexes), it seems justified to consider them as distinguishing both species from all others in the hypocrita -group.

Etymology. This charming species is dedicated to Mary Howard, a good friend and generous donator to our project.

TRIBE RHOPHALOPHORINI

Figures

Figures 4–9. Chrysoprasis and Rhopalophora species. Figures 4-5. Chrysoprasis azurearegina sp. nov., dorsal habitus. 4) male holotype. 5) female paratype. Figures 6-7. Chrysoprasis maryhowardi sp. nov., dorsal habitus. 6) male holotype. 7) female paratype. Figures 8-9. Rhopalophora santacruzensis sp. nov., dorsal habitus. 8) male holotype. 9) female paratype.